Ford and Telemundo Showcase Hispanic Business Success Stories With New Television Series

* Ford Motor Company has partnered with Spanish television Telemundo to spotlight the success of Hispanic business leaders.

* The half-hour television program, called 'El Camino Al Truinfo' (The Road to Triumph), helps Hispanic business owners to manage personal finances and offers tips for business success.

* The next episode air tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. EDT/PT.

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 22 -- Ford Motor Company and the Spanish television network Telemundo are partnering to spotlight the entrepreneurial spirits and inspirational stories of Hispanic business on the next episode of "El Camino Al Truinfo" (The Road to Triumph) at 5:30 p.m. EDT/PT.

Hosted by financial analyst Xavier Serbia and actress/film producer Anabel Garcia, the half-hour program highlights the successful triumphs of Hispanic business owners and offers personal finance and other tips to succeed in corporate America.

The first episode, which aired on August 2, profiled the inspirational stories of Ford dealer Irma Elder and music producer Kike Santander. Tomorrow's episode highlights a young Ford dealer Jay Rosario and Hector Barreto, administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Rosario's entrepreneurial spirit has taken the young business owner to new heights. Through the Ford sponsored National Automobile Dealers Association Dealer Training Program, Rosario learned necessary management skills while sharpening his leadership and entrepreneurial abilities. At 26, he became the youngest graduate of the intensive one-year program and at age 30, became the youngest Hispanic to own a Ford dealership.

Elder, owner of the Elder Automotive Group, is a story that has evolved over time. From a homemaker in the early 1960's to a budding entrepreneur in 1967, Elder today is a successful entrepreneur who owns six Ford dealerships in Michigan and Florida. The Elder Automotive Group generates more than $400 million in annual sales and consistently ranks in the top 10 of Hispanic Business Magazine's top 500 Hispanic-owned corporations -- the only woman- owned corporation in the top 10.

Born in Cali, Colombia, Santander moved to Miami in 1995. Before arriving in America, Santander was a well-known jinglero, the Colombian term for people who make advertising jingles. Santander was BMI's 1999 Latin Songwriter of the Year and writer of "Si Tú Supieras, the Latin Song of the Year. Today, Santaderis a successful music composer and has worked with famous entertainers such as Gloria Estefan, Thalia, Christian Castro and Olga Tañon, among others.

"I'm very proud to be part of a television program that will present U.S. Hispanics with the opportunity to obtain control of their financial future," said Xavier Serbia. "I applaud Ford and Telemundo for taking on this important task of encouraging, educating, and inspiring the Hispanic community."

"Our goal of highlighting the success of Hispanics like Irma Elder and Kike Santader coupled with the great advice of Xavier Serbia and Anabel Garcia is to empower the Hispanic community to make their business goals and dreams a reality," said Jan Valentic, vice president of Global Marketing, Ford Motor Company. "We want Hispanics to know that Ford is a social conscious company and committed to diversity and the development of the communities we do business."

The next episodes of "El Camino Al Triunfo" will air on the Telemundo Television Network at 5:30 p.m. EST/PT on August 23, September 27, October 25, December 6 and 7.

Go to http://media.ford.com/ for news releases and high-resolution photographs.